Archives

Texas School Shooting Reignites Gun Control Debate Across the Country

Currents News Staff

Nineteen small children were slaughtered by a gunman not much older than they were. He was the legal owner of two AR-15 style rifles.

“They are assault rifles,” said Texas state senator Roland Gutierrez. “It’s the first thing he did when he turned 18.”

A week ago, a day after his 18th birthday, the gunman bought a rifle, according to the local state senator. The next day, 375 rounds of ammunition were bought and two days after that, a second rifle. Yet four days later, he shot and killed 19 kids and two adults.

“Maybe we could at least agree that we should raise the age for purchasing these weapons,” said Texas Rep. Colin Allred.

But just last year, lawmakers lowered to the age of 18, the age that some Texans can get a handgun license.

For rifles, Texas law mirrors federal law of 18 and up. You can buy one of these after just a basic background check. But from an unlicensed dealer, or at a gun show, no check is required.

In California, the legal age to buy assault style rifles was upped to 21 in 2019. Two weeks ago, it was struck down back to 18.

Why?

“America would not exist without the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army,” wrote California Judge Ryan Nelson. “Today we reaffirm that our constitution still protects the right that enabled their sacrifice: the right of young adults to keep and bear arms.”

So, 18-year-olds in California can buy semi-automatic weapons today, in part, because teenage soldiers died carrying single-shot muskets in a war more than 200 years ago.

“Stronger gun laws save lives,” said Shannon Watts from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Weaker gun laws cause gun crime and gun violence. The data is in. We need our lawmakers to act.”

This latest tragedy in Texas is far from an isolated instance of a legally-armed teenaged attacker.

Just 11 days ago, an 18-year-old White Supremacist gunned down 13 people in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo, New York who was also armed with a semi-automatic weapon that he was also legally allowed to buy and own.

Saint Michael the Archangel, Be Our Protection

Currents News Staff

In light of the devastating school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Currents News ended the May 25 newscast in a different way – with prayer.

Father Christopher Heanue, rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, joined the newscast to lead the St. Michael the Archangel prayer.

A Nation Remains In Shock After Texas Teen Shoots and Kills 21 People in School Rampage

Currents News Staff

What should have been a joyous day just before summer break turned into a nightmare when 19 children and two teachers were shot and killed at Robb Elementary on Tuesday. Families instead of planning vacations are now planning funerals.

The suspected gunman is an 18-year-old who police say shot his grandmother before going to the school and opening fire on a fourth-grade class.

“Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

The suspected gunman is an 18-year-old who police say shot his grandmother before going to the school and opening fire on a fourth-grade class.

“He dropped out of school,” said Steve McCraw, Director at Texas Department of Public Safety. “He had no criminal history that we can find.”

As the community grapples with this horrific tragedy, the conversation in Washington turns to curbing gun violence.

“Our country is sickened and outraged by the senseless evil that struck Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell.

“One nation under guns. It doesn’t have to be that way,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer. “Our parents don’t need to drop their kids off at school and wonder if their kid will be next.”

Many are now wondering whether these words from politicians will be turned into action.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 05/25/22

Uvalde, Texas is the latest community torn apart – a classroom, turned into a killing chamber.

What can the Catholic Church do to make the Texas school shooting the last of its kind? Right now, a complete report on Currents News.

 

Texas Community Turns to Prayer as 19 Children and Two Teachers Killed Inside Fourth Grade Classroom

Currents News Staff

The community of Uvalde is turning to prayer as they mourn the 19 children and two teachers gunned down inside a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School.

Twenty-one people in total are now gone including 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza whose father confirmed her death on Facebook, writing in part “my little love is now flying high with the angels above.”

Eva Mireles was a fourth-grade teacher and educator for 17 years according to her online school profile. She was a wife and mother who loved running, hiking and bike riding. Her co-teacher Irma Garcia worked at the school for 23 years and was married with four children.

Xavier Lopez was seen smiling in a photo after making Honor Roll that morning. Then, there’s 10-year-old Annabelle Rodriguez whose parents were frantically searching for her during the chaos after the shooting.

“Looking for my daughter,” said Jessie Rodriguez. “I mean, after the shooting, they don’t know where she’s at. We don’t know a list of who’s gotten flown out and you’re not letting us in at the hospital right now. So we’re at, we don’t know where to go. We need somebody reply to us, you know, where, tell us where, where my daughter’s at.”

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller vowed that the archdiocese will be there for the victims’ families and do whatever it takes to support them. He celebrated Mass last night at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Earlier in the day, in an interview with The Tablet newspaper, he spoke out against U.S. gun culture and our elected leaders.

“This is just outrageous,” the archbishop said. “So many people are killed daily all over the country because of the use of guns and we protect them. We need to protect people.”

The archbishop is challenging the Catholic Church in the U.S. to be more vocal on the topic of gun violence.

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller Consoles Community and Celebrates Mass For Texas School Shooting

Currents News Staff

Mourners attended a Mass for Tuesday’s Texas school shooting victims.

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller celebrated an 8 p.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde for the community and for the people who have been impacted directly. Uvalde is 85 miles west of San Antonio.

“I don’t know what to make of all of this,” Archbishop García-Siller told The Tablet. “It’s horrible news in the middle of the pandemic, the war, social unrest, the division, the political debates that are fragmenting more and more of our society and something like this is wounding people’s lives in a very profound way.”

The students were scheduled to celebrate their last day of the school year on Thursday.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 05/24/22

The suspect wanted in connection with a deadly subway shooting has been taken into custody.

Title 42 remains in place, for now, at the southern border.

 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has finally responded to a communion ban imposed by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.

Funeral Held For Another Victim of Buffalo Mass Shooting

Currents News Staff

The music-filled service began with Rev. Frank Bostic sharing a story of determination about Katherine Massey who lived down the road from him.

“We just got some new trees and she came and woke me up that morning,” said Rev. Bostic from Pilgrim  Baptist Church.

Before family, friends, and dignitaries, he spoke of the trees she fought for, to beautify Cherry St. in the city’s fruit-belt neighborhood.

“They tried to take these new trees back and she said ‘no no no no no.’ They said, ‘well they said,’ and she said, ‘I don’t care what they said. We’re going to put these trees right here, that goes for his house and we gon’ put the other one here,” Rev. said, “and that’s what we’re gonna do about it.'”

Katherine was remembered as a fierce advocate for her community.

“She was a queen mother of this community,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. “She was a leader, leading with warmth and intelligence and the power of her pen.”

Katherine fought to reduce gun crime and improve education. Buffalo Board of Education Member Sharon Belton Cottman was Kat’s longtime friend  and offered assurances to a grieving community.

“We cannot allow anyone to steal our joy or try to take from us,” Sharon said. “It’s not an option.”

Family paid their respects with collective gratitude for Kat’s tireless work.